Machine and process for making continuous helicoids or conveyers



Jan. 8, 1929. I 1,698,149

J. O. BAILEY MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR MAKING CONTINUOUS HELIGOIDS OR GONVEYERS Filed April 13, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwmntw Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,149

J. o. BAILEY MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR MAKING CONTINUOUS HELICOIDS OR CONVEYERS Filed April 15, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 8, 1929; I 1,698,149

' J. o. BAILEY MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR MAKING CONTINUOUS I -IELICOIDS 0R CONVEY'ERS Filed April 13, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 8, 1929.

J. O. BAILEY MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR MAKING CONTINUOUS HELICOIDS OR CONVE YERS 4 Sheets-Shet 4 Fiied April 15, 1926 Patented- Jano 8, 1929 nsane JOSEPH Q. BAILEY, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR MAKING CONTINUOUS HELIGOIDS R GON'VEY Application filed: April 13, 1926.. Serial No. 101,716.,

This invention broadly relates to metal shaping machines, but it more especially comprehends the type adapted to expeditiously form a bar ofsteel cold into a continuous helicoid or spiral conveyor.

A principal object of this invention is to design a machine provided with three conelike pressure rolls angularly positioned With respect to each other, with their cone apices converging to substantially a common point, and adapted to form a bar or a strip of steel cold into a helicoid or endless conveyer as it travels therebetween.

While two beveled or cone-shaped rolls have heretofore been employed to shape a bar of heated steel into aspiral, such construction has proven incapable of satisfactorily functioning when the bar was not heated, therefore, an important object of this invention is the provision of aothird roll, the

points of all three; rolls being in true alignment, and while all three rolls travel at the same speed, the third roll is adjustable to effect a slightly faster feeding movement for encouraging flow of the stock through said shaping rolls, and adapted for selectivecooperation with either of said first mentioned rolls to effect either a right or left hand helicoid conveyer as desired. i

A further object of this invention is to provide a stock feedingguide mechanism adjustable with respect to the meeting ends of the rolls to regulate the pitch and to enlarge or lessen the orifice in the center of the spiral, depending upon the size of the stock and type of spiral desired.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a stock feeding guide embod 'ng an adjustable roller structure for K gui ing and lessening the friction on the stglck as it is drawn into the shaping dies or Another object of this invention is the provision of adjustable deflecting quids or guides cooperating with the respective rolls for directing the course of the stock and assisting in shaping; same into the desired configuration or helicoid.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation part] in per= spcctive of my improved machine or forming helicoids;

ig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a'detail front elevation of the forming rolls;

Fig. 4 is aperspective View of the feeding guide assembly;

Fig. 5 is a similar view from the opposite side of the same; and

Fig. 6 is a detail interior elevation of one half of the feeding guide showing the diagdual channel and rollers in position.

I am aware that spiral conveyers formed while the stock is in a heated condition is well known to the art, but the formation of a continuous helicoid conveyer from a bar of steel cold has proven to be commercially im- 75 possible and the attainment of which is a problem that has occupied for many years the attention of-those skilled in the art, with scant success.

In the method of conveyor construction heretofore in use, and in order to inanufacture the product in all sizes, it has been necessary to heat the bar toas nearly as possible a uniform heat, with the result of fire marks, damage to material, heavy and uneven places, charred and burned material, soft spots, and other troublesome and unsatisfactory conditions incident to the heating process, and it was to overcome such deficiencies, and render it possible to roll the bar cold thereby preserving all of the original qualities of the metal, effecting hardening of the outer surface and uniformity in strength and appearance, that I designed the device forming the subject matter of this invention, and which accomplishes the above result with ease and facility through the instrumentality of powerful gears mounted in heavy ball bearings adjacent each of the conical dies or forming rolls, and which in conjunction with the deflecting quids or shaping guides, owing to the scientific distribution of load stresses, enables the forming of continuous flight conveyors cold with rapidity and with a minimum of power. 7

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown a supporting frame A comprising front standards 1 and rear standards 2, which latter are interconnected by cross beams '3, 4, and 5, re- 110 spectively, firmly secured to said standardsby bolts 6. The upper ends of front standards 1 are secured by bolts 7 to the lon tudinally opposite corners of substantia ly square vertical frame plate 8, the lower corner of which rests on and is secured to the supporting stand 9. The said stand 9 is rigidly braced by angle bars 10 having their front ends fastened to,either side of the upper face of the stand 9 by fastening elements 11 with their other ends resting on and firmly secured to 'F-bar 12 carried by the supporting standards 2. The longitudinal y opposed corners of frame plate 8 supported by standards lare connected to rear standards 2 by bars 13, and the upper end of said plate is connected to cross-beams 5 by spaced parallel. bars 14.

Mounted on the frame plate 8 parallelly s aced from each of its lower sides are roller s afts 15 and 16, respectively, Mounted. in heavy thrust bearings 17 suitably secured to plate 8 by elements 18, and substantially surrounding "each of said bearings is an upstanding integral flange 19 through which extends set screws or bolts 20 for adjusting laterally and longitudinally said bearings for a purpose which will hereinafter more full 1 appear. Shafts 15 and 16 terminate at t eir lower or meeting extremities in detachable conical rolls or dies 21 secured b a plurality of countersunk screws 21 whic structurally and functionally will hereinafter he described in more particular detail.

Secured on the upper ends of shafts 15 and 16 are large bevel gears 22 adapted to mesh with pinions 23 secured onthe ends of horizontal shaft 24 mounted in bearings 25 secured to plate 8 and to the extensions 26 of said plate 8 by fastening element 27. Also'mounted on shaft 24 intermediate bearings 25 is large gear wheel 28 adapted to mesh with a plnion (not shown) carried by drive shaft 29 mounted in bearings suitably secured and supported by parallel bars 14. Properly keyed or otherwise secured on one end of shaft 29 is sprocket wheel '30 connected to the motor 31 by drive chain 32, the said mottfi 31 being supported on and suitably secured to parallel bars 14 by fastening elements 33. Adjustment of the bearings 25 is effected similar to bearings 17 by set screws or bolts 20 threadedly engaging the flange-like projections 19 formed integral with the frame plate 8.

Mounted in bearings 34 and 35 supported on stand 9 and T-bar 12, respectively, is a third roller shaft 36 formed with a detachable cone-shaped roll or die 37 similar to rolls 21 and op'eratively positioned so that the apices of all three rolls will meet at substantially a common point as clearly shown in Fig, 3 of the drawings. Shaft 36 is adapted to effect longitudinal adjustment of the conical roll or die 37 with respect to rolls 21 for a purpose hereinafter more fully appearing.

Longitudinally slidable on the shaft 36 intermediate the bearings 34 and 35 are a pair of spaced bevel gears 38 and 39 adapted for respective selective engagement with a complemental bevel gear 40 mounted on the end of drive shaft 41 to effectreversal of the rotatable direction of shaft 36 and roll 37 to form either right or left hand continuous helicoid or spiral flight conveyer 22 imparts powerful rotational force to shafts 15 and 16 and conical rolls 21 in directions towards each other. and to shaft 36 and conical roll 37 from shaft 15 through sprocket 47, chain 46, sprocket 45, shaft 41, gear 40 and gear 38 or 39 dependent upon whether it is desired for shaft 36 to cooperate with and rotate in the direction of shaft 15. or 16.

The frame plate 8 is recessed at its upper end as at 48 to receive the gear wheel 28, and at its lower end as at 49 surrounding the three cooperating rolls or dies 21 and 39 as clearly shown in Fig. '1 of the drawings, and is also formed with openings 46' througl which is adapted to extend chain 46.

A movable frame 50 is positioned adjacent stand 9 adapted to support a table 51 suitably secured thereto and vertically adjustable with respect to said stand 9 by ja -k screws 52 provided with threaded nuts 53 vertically supported in the base 54. Detachably secured to top 51 by fastening elements or bolts 55 spaced from said top by spacer washers 56 is a board or shelf 57 on which is adapted to be mounted the material or stock guide assembly 13 immediately facing the converging apices of the conical rolls 21 and. 37, which will now be described in nally recessed on their inner surfaces as at 62 to form when operatively positioned the steel is inserted in the side walls of openming of the stock and is suitably recessed ing 63. To further reduce friction the stock is adapted to travel through the guide 59 between hardened steel rollers 66 positioned along the top and bottom of the channel 63. The initial top roller 67 is eccentrically mounted in the bifurcated end of the handle 68, which is detachably secured to the main portion of the handle as at 68,.and as the handle is brought down the roller exerts a pressure on the stock which tends to steady it on each of the other rollers, and which construction permits a slight variation in stock widths without any adjustment of the other rollers. While the rollers 66 in the present instance are shown as fixed, it .is to be understood that they may be adjustably mounted to accommodate varying widths of stock, as desired.

The inner edge of guide 59 is wedgeshaped as at 69 to extend substantially between the beveled surfaces of rolls 21 when operatively positioned so as to deliver the stock 64 directly to said rolls. The upper ends of'the complemental "members a and b are firmly secured together by bolts or fastening elements 70.

Mounted on the board 57 intermediate the stand 9 and guide 59 is a substantially rectangular base block 71 formed with in'- tegral upstanding portions at its inner end and centrally thereof vertically bored to receive the stem portions of the hardened steel frictionless roller guide 72 and the steel housilgg member 73 adjustably secured by set screw 74, the said base block 71 being movably secured to shelf or; board 57 by bolt or fastening element 75 and longitudinally and arcuately adjustable with respect to said guide 59, additionally-secured in such adjusted position by set screw 76. As apparent from the above, the friction steel roller guide 72 is adjustable either to the right or left as occasion may require, and has a controlling influencein guidingthe stock out to the diameter and spiral pitches required. The hardened steel member 73 has its upperface hollowed out as at 77 to fit the cone surface of roll 37 constituting a housing or guard therefor to prevent jamon its under side to allow free rotation of the roller guide 72.

Positioned adjacent base block 71 spaced from block 58 is a substantially triangular base member 78 secured to board 57 by fasteningelements 79 and formed with an integral upstanding portion 80 centrally bored to receive the vertical stem 81 of the deflecting guide or quid 82 formed integral therewith. The deflector or guide 82 projects from said stem 81 laterally and upwardly with its upper surface hollowed or dished as at 83 and is adapted to partially extend back of conical roll 21 adjacent roll 37 so as to contact the outer surface of the helicoid as its emerges from conical rolls 21 and 37, directing it from the machine and assisting in maintaining uniformity in diameter and pitch, when forming a left hand helicoid conveyer. The said deflector guide 82 is arcuately and vertically adjustable by stem 81 which is held in any desired position by set screw 84.

A similar base block- 78 identically positioned on the opposite side of block 71 secured by elements 79 to board 57 and with the centrally bored upstanding portion 80 I adapted to receive the vertical stem 85 integrally formed with the deflecting guide or quid 86 corresponding to deflector 82 in structure and function, except being positioned on the opposite side of the housing 73, is adapted to take off the stock or helicoid from the opposite side of the ma chine when the rotational direction of the third or horizontal roll 37 is towards said deflector 86 to form a right hand spiral conveyer.

An adjustable and detachable spider-like frame 87 adapted to support the stock 64 prior to its delivery to the guide 59 is positioned at one side of the machine, in the present instance secured to the corner of board 57 by clamp 88 and to stand 9 as at 89 and supported by leg 90 secured to said frame as at 91, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and supporting arm 92 over which is adapted to travel the finished right hand spiral conveyer 93 as it emerges from the machine, is formed with standards 94 adapted to be vertically supported in the upstanding portions 95 integrally formed with the base 96 secured to board 57 by fastening elements or bolts 97. In forming a left hand spiral or continuous flight conveyer the stock is taken ed the machine from the opposite side to that shown in Fig. 1, and in which case the relative positions of frame 87 and arm 92 with respect to the machine are reversed.

The motive power of the device is controlled by switch 98 secured centrally of frameplate 8 as at 99 and connected to electric motor 31 by wires 100 and 101.

While the operation of the device is clear from the above description, it might be well to explain in more detail the operation with respect to certain features of the invention.

Before passing the stock 64 to the rolls from guide 59, the said rolls 21 and 37 are adjusted to the proper spacing, preferablyto compress the metal or stock on its outer edge and thicken it on its inner edge, the direction and pressure of the third roll 37 being towards and against the roll 21 on the side of the machine from which the finished helicoid or continuous conveyer flight is taken.

While the diameter of the helicoid is pri marily controlled by the thickness of the stock, the outside of the diameter and the inside of the orifice through the spiral is controlled by raising or. lowering the bar or stock with respect to the conical faces of the rolls 21 through the instrumentality of table 51, and adjusting the deflecting guides 82, 86, and 72 to the desired size of the helicoid to be formed.

The desired curvature or helical to form a spiral conveyer of given size and pitch is further regulated by an adjustment of the flow of the stock to the conical rolls and longitudinal adjustment of roll 37.

After the device has been properly adjusted as above, the stock 64 .is passed between conical rolls 21 around and between one of said rolls and roll 37 on the side of the machine from which it is to be taken, where it is engaged by the deflecting guides 82 or 86 and directed from the machine on arm 92 in the form of the desired helicoid or continuous spiral conveyer.

Although in practice I have found the form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment, is the most efficient and practical,

yet realizing the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may

- be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, and without enumerating Variations and equivalents, what I desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

1. A method for forming a helicoid consisting subjecting the stock to the spiraling action of a trio of coacting surfaces having their longitudinal axes located in planes at substantial right angles to each other.

2. A method for forming a helicoid consisting in successively passing the stock between pairs of a trio of coacting rotary surfaces having their longitudinal axeslocated in planes at substantial right angles to each other.

3. In a machine for forming continuous helicoids or spiral conveyers, the combination of a trio of conical pressure rolls havin their apices converging to a common point adapted to engage the stock to form a helicoid, and means for driving the rolls.

4. In a machine for forming continuous helicoids or spirals, the combination of three conical pressure rolls angularly positioned with respect to each other, one of said rolls adapted for selective cooperation with either of the other rolls for engagement with the stock to form a helicoid.

5. In a machine for forming continuous helicoids or spirals, the combination of a pair of conical rolls mounted in substantially a vertical plane, a third conical roll mounted in a longitudinal plane and adapted for selective cooperation with either of the other rolls for engagement with the stock to form a helicoid.

6. In a machine for formin continuous helicoids or spiral conveyers, t e combination of two conical pressure rolls mounted in the same axial plane, a third conical pressure roll mounted at substantial right angles to the first mentioned rolls and longitudinally adjustable with respect thereto.

7. In a machine for forming continuous helicoids or spiral conveyers, the combination of three rotatable shafts having conical rolls detachably secured to their lower ends with their apices converging to a common point, and means for driving said shafts.

8. In a machine for forming continuous helicoids or spiral conve ers, the combination of two shafts forme with conical pressure rolls mounted in the same axial plane, a third shaft formed with a similar conical pressure roll mounted at substantial right angles to the first mentioned shafts, means for driving said first mentioned shafts, and additional means for drivin the third shaft from one of said other sha ts.

9. In a machine for forming continuous helicoids or spiral conveyers, the combination of a trio of conical rolls, means for guiding the stock to the rolls, and means for effecting vertical adjustment of the guiding means with respect to said rolls.

10. In a machine for forming continuous helicoids or spirals, the combination of a plurality of conical pressure rolls, means for guiding the stock to said rolls, means for guiding thestock from said rolls, and means for effecting simultaneous vertical adjustment of both of said means with respect to said rolls.

11, In a machine for forming continuous helicoids or spirals, the combination of a plurality of conical pressure rolls, means for guiding the stock to said rolls, means for guiding the stock from said rolls, both of said means being mounted as a unit, and means for effecting Vertical adjustment of the unit with respect to the rolls.

12. In a machine for forming continuous helicoids or spiral conveyors, the combination of a plurality of conical pressure rolls, means for guiding the stock from said rolls, said1 means comprising a rotatable deflector gm e. Y

13. In a machine for forming continuous helicoids or spiral conveyers, the combination of a plurality of conical pressure rolls, means for guiding the stock to said rolls, means for guiding the stock from said rolls, said latter means comprising fixed and rotatable deflector guides.

14. In a machine for forming continuous helicoids or spiral conveyers, the combination of a plurality of conical pressure rolls, means for directing the stock to said rolls, means for assisting in shaping and guiding the stock as it emerges from said rolls comprising a deflector guide vertically and transversely arcuately adjustable with respect to the longitudinal axes of said rolls.

15'. In a machine for forming continuous helicoids or spiral conveyers, the combination of a plurality of conical pressure rolls, means for directing the stock to said rolls, means for assisting in shaping and guiding the stock as it emerges from said rolls, said means comprising deflector guides certain of which are verticall and transversely arouately adjustable wlth respect to the longitudinal axes of said rolls.

16. In a machine for forming continuous helicoids or spiral conveyers, the combination of a plurality of conical pressure rolls, means for directing the stock to said rolls, means for assisting in shaping and guiding the stock as it emerges from said rolls, said meanscomprising deflecting guides cooperating with the rolls on opposite sides thereof,

one of said guides adaptedto engage the stock when forming a right hand conveyer and the other when forming a left hand conveyer.

17. In a machine for forming continuous helicoids or spiral conveyers, the combination of a plurality of conical, pressure rolls, means for directing the stock to' said rolls, means for assisting in shaping and guiding the stock as it emerges from said rolls, said means comprising deflecting guides cooperating with the rolls on opposite sides thereof, certain of said guides adapted to engage the stock when forming a right hand helicoid and others when forming a; left hand helicoid, and an additional guide adapted to engage the stock when forming either a right or 1e hand helicoid or conveyer.

'18. In a machine for forming continuous helicoids or spiral conveyers, the combination of a plurality of conical pressure rolls, means for guiding the stock to said rolls comprising roller bearings between which the stock is adapted to pass, certain of said rollers being eccentrically mounted.

19. In a machine for forming continuous helicoids or spiral conveyers, the combination of a plurality of conical rolls, means for guiding the. stock to said rolls comprising roller bearings between which the stock is adapted to pass, one of said rollers being eccentrically mounted, and means for operatively contacting the eccentric roller 'with the stock.

20. In a'machine for forming helicoids or spiral conveyers, the combination of a plurality of conical rolls, means for guiding the stock to the rolls, deflecting guides for di-' recting the stock from said rolls, and an adjustable guard means associated with one of said rolls for preventing jamming'of the stoc JOSEPH o, BAILEY. r 

